Golfer&#39;s head restrainer

ABSTRACT

A golf training device to be worn by the user and having a central upper back abutting portion with an upwardly projecting and a downwardly projecting pair of arms and a pair of laterally spaced apart forwardly projecting arms. The pair of forwardly projecting arms extend over the wearers shoulders, the upwardly projecting arm terminates in an enlarged area that abuts the users head and the downwardly projecting extends downwardly along the users back and reacts to forces imposed by the users head on the other upwardly projecting arm. A pair of crossed straps anchors detachably connected to the device anchors it to the users body.

[0001] This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/330,862 filed on Jul. 9, 2001 and is hereby incorporated herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Technical Field

[0003] This invention relates generally to the game of golf and more particularly to a device that can be worn by the golfer during play or practice to restrain the golfers head and train the muscles while swinging to hit the ball to improve consistency with which the ball is struck.

[0004] 2. Background Information

[0005] In the game of golf one is constantly told to keep their head down while swinging the club to hit the ball. When one makes a poor shot fellow golfers are quick to say ‘you lifted your head’ or ‘you didn't keep your head down’.

[0006] Numerous devices have been proposed to restrain one's head during a golf swing but few golfers, if any, have given any or much thought, at the same time, to training the muscles and mind to memorize the motion used in making a good clean hit on the ball.

[0007] A number of patents have been granted for various different training devices and to applicants knowledge the following is the most closely related to the present invention: U.S. Pat. No. 3,713,657 granted Jan. 30, 1973 to G. E. Presta and entitled ‘GOLFERS HEAD RESTRAINER’. The Presta device has a neck embracing part with a portion projecting upwardly therefrom that engages the lower portion of the skull to prevent or restrain the golfer from raising his head. While this may keep the head down the device does not transmit information to very many if any of the users muscular structure so that they can memorize the swing that results in a good hit.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0008] A principal object of the present invention is to provide a device for a golfer to wear restraining movement of the head during a golf swing and at the same time train the muscles to improve consistency of the swing for a good hit. Development of muscular memory is used consistently to improve quality of body movement throughout the therapy community. The present device has a lever arm that places gentle pressure at the occipital region of the skull to assist the golfer in keeping the head down while swinging to hit the ball. The end of the lever arm is cupped and padded for safety. The pressure is gentle in nature since muscles do not require forced positioning to relearn specific movements and their qualities. The device allows portions of the trapezium, levator scapula and the stenocleidomastoid to replicate a semi-elongated position from address to back swing to downswing and at follow through while keeping the head down. The device is stabilized at the shoulders with another lever arm running down the spinal column as an opposing force to the skull engaging upwardly projecting arm. This force keeps continuous, gentle pressure in place at the occipital region. The device is readily strapped to the user's body by straps detachably connected to the device by suitable means such as hook and loop fasteners for example known by the Trademark VELCRO. The strapping is attached to the lever arm that extends downwardly on the back and runs under the axillary region. The straps attach to the front of the device in a figure eight fashion and pulls the device to a desired tightness on the golfer.

[0009] The device is made of a plastics material and molded to shape and if desired in various different sizes. The device has a thickness of about one eighth of an inch and thus is light in weight. It is not cumbersome and therefor can be worn during play but is intended primarily for practice at the driving range or in ones back yard.

[0010] More particularly, the golf training device comprises a stiff member having a central upper back abutting portion with a laterally spaced apart pair of arms projecting forwardly therefrom adjacent an upper edge thereof to extend over the wearer's shoulder. A first arm is located between the forwardly projecting arms that extends upwardly from the central back abutting portion to engage a lower back portion of the wearer's skull. A second arm projects downwardly from the central back abutting portion to extend along an upper portion of the golfers back. Means to attach the golf training device in a desired position such as VELCRO attached to straps is used by the golfer to adjust the device for use by the golfer.

[0011] It is an object of the present invention to train the muscles of the neck to stay fixed in a downward angle towards the ball providing the correct setup throughout the golf swing.

[0012] It is an object of the present invention to provide a training device which translates movement to the primary neck flexors including the longus capitis, lonus colli, rectus capitis anterior, sternomastoid, and the scalenus anterior to enable the use of muscle memory to feel and memorize a shortened position throughout the golf swing.

[0013] It is another object of the present invention to provide a means for the primary antereoloteral neck flexor (sternomastoid) to use muscle memory to feel and memorize a neutral yet consistently stable position.

[0014] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide that the primary neck extensors including the splenius capitus, splenius cervicis, longissmus capitis, spinalis cervicis, spinalis capitis, semispinalis cervicis, semispinalis capitis, rectus, capitus posterior-major and minor, and th obliquus capitus inferior and posterior, iliocostalis, and upper fibers of trapezius to utilize muscle memory to feel and memorize a slightly elongated position during the golf swing.

[0015] It is an object of the present invention to enable the neck muscleature to memorize the optimal position required to hit a quality golf shot consistently time after time.

[0016] It is an object of the present invention to minimize or even block neck extension and decrease lateral rotation during the golf swing.

[0017] It is an object of the present invention to allow the neck musculature to memorize and/or feel what it is like to hit a golf ball while in the optimal position.

[0018] Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent with the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings showing a preferred embodiment of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] A better understanding of the present invention will be had upon reference to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views and wherein:

[0020]FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a golfer wearing a head restraining and muscle training device of the present invention;

[0021]FIG. 2 is an oblique view of the golf training device of the present invention;

[0022]FIG. 3 is a front view of the golf training device of the present invention; and

[0023]FIG. 4 is a right side view of the golf training device of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0024] As best illustrated in FIG. 1, a golfer is shown wearing a golf training device 10 provided in accordance with the present invention. The golf training device 10 is made of a suitable plastics material molded to shape to include a central portion 11 with downwardly curved forwardly projecting arms 12 and 13 that fit over the golfer's shoulders. An upwardly projecting arm 14 terminates in an enlarged area 15 that is cupped to abut against the bottom back portion of the golfers skull. A downwardly projecting arm 16 extends down along an upper portion of the golfer's back a selected length providing feedback relating to spinal alignment and posture throughout the golf swing.

[0025] The golf training device 10 is attached to the wearer by a fastening means 20, for example, a crisscrossed pair of straps 21 and 22. The straps 21, 22 are detachably connected at one end to a respective one of the arms 12 and 13 and at the other end to the downwardly projecting arm 17. Any suitable detachable anchoring means maybe used, for example co-operating hook and loop portions at the areas designated 17, 18 and 19 in the drawings with one of the hook and loop on the device 10 and the other on the fastening means 20. It is contemplated that elastic straps, strips of material with buttons and corresponding button holes, snaps, buckles, or other means of anchoring the golf training device 10 in the proper position may be used in place of or together with the preferred hook and loop method of attachment.

[0026] With repetitive use of the golf training device 10, the users muscles will memorize the position for a swing that will give consistent golf shots and thereby with time improve the golfers score.

[0027] The foregoing detailed description is given primarily for clearness of understanding and no unnecessary limitations are to be understood therefrom, for modifications will become obvious to those skilled in the art based upon more recent disclosures and may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims. 

I claim:
 1. A golf training device, comprising a stiff member having a central upper back abutting portion with a laterally spaced apart pair of arms projecting forwardly there from adjacent an upper edge thereof to extend over the wearer's shoulder, a first arm at a location between said forwardly projecting arms that extends upwardly from said central back abutting portion to engage a lower back portion of the wearer's skull and a second arm projecting downwardly from said central back abutting portion to extend along an upper portion of the golfers back and means to attach the device to the user thereof.
 2. The golf training device as defined in claim 1, wherein said first and second arms extend from respective opposite edges of said central upper back abutting portion.
 3. The golf training device as defined in claim 1, wherein said forwardly projecting arms are curved downwardly to fit over the golfers shoulders.
 4. The golf training device as defined in claim 1 being molded from a plastics material.
 5. The device as defined in claim 1, wherein said device has a thickness of approximately one eight of an inch.
 6. The device as defined in claim 1, wherein said means attaching the device to the user, comprises straps connected at one end thereof to respective ones of said pair of forwardly projecting arms and at the other end to said second arm.
 7. The device as defined in claim 1, wherein said first arm terminates in an enlarged area that engages the wears head.
 8. The device as defined in claim 6 including means detachably connecting said straps to said stiff member.
 9. The device as defined in claim 7 wherein said enlarged area is cupped. 